Portable Outdoor Gear Bags, ranked by PFAS safety
37 products graded A to F, safest first. None have earned a C or better yet, so we show the full ranking and the least-concerning options first.
Graded and flagged D and F, we’d swap these
REI Co-op
Trailgate Gear Bin Green 140 L
Polypropylene storage bin, no water-resistant coating mentioned
Lower PFAS concern for bare plastic storage container.
⚠Risky category by default
Gregory
Alpaca Gear Box Adventure Kit Backpack
Alpaca fiber/nylon blend with water-repellent coating finish
Adventure pack uses water-repellent coating; Gregory silent on PFAS chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Gregory
Inertia 18 H2O
Nylon/polyester blend with water-resistant treatment (H2O system)
Unknown water-repellent coating treatment chemistry; Gregory silent on PFAS disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Gregory
Alpaca Gear Box 25 2 Pack Backpack
Nylon fabric with water-repellent coating water-repellent treatment
Backpack uses water-repellent coating; Gregory discloses no PFAS stance.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Gregory
Alpaca Gear Box Adventure Kit 2 Pack Backpack
Alpaca fiber blend with water-repellent coating-treated nylon
Alpaca backpack likely uses water-repellent coating; Gregory provides no PFAS disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Gregory
Inertia 24 H2O Backpack
Nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating
Water-resistant backpack.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Gregory
Swift 22 H2O Backpack
Nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating
Water-resistant backpack; PFAS coating status unknown, no brand disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
REI Co-op
Trailgate Gear Cube Green 15 L
nylon/polyester fabric with water-repellent coating water-repellent treatment
water-repellent coating treatment likely present; PFAS use unknown.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
REI Co-op
Convertible Duffel
nylon/polyester with water-repellent coating treatment
water-repellent coating-treated duffel.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
REI Co-op
Roadtripper Duffel
Polyester/nylon with water-repellent coating finish
water-repellent coating-treated duffel, PFAS coating status unclear from REI.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
REI Co-op
Pack Duffel
Nylon/polyester with water-repellent coating treatment
water-repellent coating-treated duffel; PFAS risk unclear without material disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
REI Co-op
Roadtripper 60 Duffel
Nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating
Durable duffel with unknown water-repellent coating chemistry; REI silent on PFAS details.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
REI Co-op
Roadtripper 140 Duffel
Nylon with water-repellent coating water-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating duffels typically use PFAS; REI silent on specifics.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
REI Co-op
Big Haul Duffel
Ballistic nylon with water-repellent coating treatment
Durable duffel, but water-repellent coating PFAS status undisclosed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Outdoor Products
YETI Sidekick 3L Dry Gear Case
Fabric with waterproof/water-repellent coating
Unknown water-repellent coating; YETI discloses nothing about PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Outdoor Products
Watertight Gear Expandable 40L White Dry Bag
PVC or TPU dry bag with unspecified waterproof coating
Skip. Waterproof coating unspecified, no PFAS transparency.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Outdoor Products
Unisex Multi-compartment Outdoor Gear Bag
Synthetic fabric with waterproof coating, unspecified
Skip until brand discloses coating chemistry or certifications
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Mountainsmith
Dry Kick Waterproof Fanny Pack
Ripstop nylon with unspecified waterproof coating
Skip unless brand confirms water-repellent coating chemistry or provides test results.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Mountainsmith
Backpack Rain Cover
synthetic fabric with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating, composition unspecified
Waterproof coating type unknown.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Mountainsmith
Zerk 40 Backpack
Nylon pack fabric with water-repellent coating
Unknown water-repellent coating treatment.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Mountainsmith
Apex 80 Backpack
Nylon fabric with water-repellent coating
High-end backpack likely uses water-repellent coating treatment; PFAS risk unclear, no brand disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Mountainsmith
Mayhem EVO 30 Backpack
nylon with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
Backpack with water-repellent coating; PFAS treatment undisclosed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Mountainsmith
Backpack Raincover
Polyester with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating, unspecified
Raincover material and coating composition not publicly disclosed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Mountainsmith
Epic Lumbar Pack
Nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating
Typical outdoor pack; water-repellent coating likely contains PFAS, brand silent on specifics.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Mountainsmith
Divide EVO Daypack
nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating treatment, specific chemistry unspecified
Unknown water-repellent coating chemistry; no PFAS disclosure or testing data available.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Columbia
Manresa 33L Backpack
nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating
Moderate concern; Columbia silent on PFAS in water-repellent coating treatment.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Columbia
Landroamer 60L Duffel
polyester/nylon with water-repellent coating water-resistant coating
water-repellent coating likely present; PFAS risk unconfirmed, contact Columbia for disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Columbia
Wildwood Heights 45L+5L Backpack
Nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating treatment (unspecified)
Backpack uses water-repellent coating; PFAS composition unknown.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Columbia
Pfg Performance Fishing Gear 28" 75 L Weatherproof Duffle Bag
polyester/nylon with water-repellent coating weatherproof coating
Weatherproof duffle likely uses water-repellent coating treatment; PFAS status unclear from brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Columbia
Landroamer 40L Duffel
Nylon/polyester blend with water-repellent coating water-resistant coating
Duffel likely has water-repellent coating.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
US Military Backpack Kelty Multi Purpose Waterproof New
Nylon or polyester with waterproof water-repellent coating, composition unspecified
Military backpack with undisclosed waterproof coating; PFAS status unknown.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Varicom Waterproof Compression Sack Large
Nylon ripstop with waterproof coating, composition unspecified
Waterproof sack; coating composition unknown, PFAS risk unconfirmed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Quest Outdoors Camp Galley Deluxe
Synthetic outershell with water-repellent coating treatment
Camp cookware with waterproof coating; PFAS status undisclosed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Backpack Rain Cover
polyester with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating
Skip until Kelty discloses coating chemistry or certifies PFAS-free.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
US Military Backpack Kelty Multi Purpose Waterproof Bag
Nylon/polyester with waterproof coating, composition unspecified
Unknown waterproof treatment; manufacturer silent on PFAS content.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
ASHER 55-Beluga/Colonial Blue | Kelty
polyester fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
Kelty silent on water-repellent coating chemistry; assume traditional PFAS until verified otherwise
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Warbler Pack
Nylon/polyester ripstop with water-repellent coating water-resistant coating
water-repellent coating treatment likely contains PFAS; brand discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
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